Abstract
A standard problem in large tanks at oil refineries and petrol stations is that water and fuel usually occupy the same tank. This is undesirable and causes problems such as corrosion in the tanks. Normally, the water level in tanks is unknown, with the problems that this entails. We propose herein a method based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to detect in real time the interfaces in a tank which can simultaneously contain water, gasoline (or diesel) and air. The plasmonic sensor is composed of a hemispherical glass prism, a magnesium fluoride layer, and a gold layer. We have optimized the structural parameters of the sensor from the theoretical modeling of the reflectance curve. The sensor detects water-fuel and fuel-air interfaces and measures the level of each liquid in real time. This sensor is recommended for inflammable liquids because inside the tank there are no electrical or electronic signals which could cause explosions. The sensor proposed has a sensitivity of between 1.2 and 3.5 RIU−1 and a resolution of between 5.7 × 10−4 and 16.5 × 10−4 RIU.
Highlights
The presence of water inside fuel tanks currently poses a problem
It is essential in the fuel industry to have methods to detect the presence of water in fuel tanks and measure the water level in real time, but fuel tanks in refineries and petrol stations normally use rudimentary methods—for instance, a stick with a special paste is inserted into the tank
For the refractive index of gasoline and diesel, a range was taken of between 1.40 and 1.48, which corresponds to the values for different types registered; when it is in contact with water, the value is 49.1%; and when it is in contact with gasoline or diesel the values are 80.4%, 86.4%, 90.0%, 91.5%, and 91.0% for refractive-index values of 1.40, of gasoline and diesel
Summary
The presence of water inside fuel tanks currently poses a problem. Being denser than the fuel, the water lies at the bottom of the tank, and when the water surpasses the maximum permitted level, it must be removed from the tank. It is essential in the fuel industry to have methods to detect the presence of water in fuel tanks and measure the water level in real time, but fuel tanks in refineries and petrol stations normally use rudimentary methods—for instance, a stick with a special paste (water-finding paste) is inserted into the tank (if the tank is not very deep). When in contact with water, this paste changes color, indicating the presence but not the level of the water in the tank [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
